Card index and file



Nov. 15, 1927.

M. M DONALD CARD INDEX AND FILE Filed April 15. 1926 Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

ZITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

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CARD INDEX AND FILE.

Application filed April 15, 1926. Serial No. 102,193.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved card index and file wherein, when the cards are filed within the holder a space will be left exposed at the taper the card upon which the name to be indexed upon the card will be exposed to view and unobstructed when the cards are in normal position ofuse.

A further object of my new and improved card index and file, is to provide a card holder that will engage the card at its lower extremity and will hold the same in fixed osition with relation to the holder.

A further object of my invention is to provide a stirrup; the object of which is to permit the hinging of one or more cards about the stirrups to facilitate the inspection of the card under observation.

A still tnrther object of my invention is to provide a longitudinal guideway upon which the stirrnps may be assembled and along which the stirrups may be made to pass, the widthof the stirrup determining the spaced relationship that is to be maintained between the lower edges of thecards and the space that will remain exposed along the top edge of the card upon which the name is to be printed.

A'still further object of my invention is to provide a holder for cards that will per mit of the filing of cards of diti'erent lengths in the same file without in any way interfering with the efiiciency of the same.

Astill additional object of my invention consists in providing holders for the cards, wherein the cards may be easily placed within the card holder, and wherein the card may he held intermediate its ends along one side, thus developing the full strength of the card. Additional objects consist in the forming of a holder or tray that may be easily assembled within a tray or holder that will fit into a cabinet in which several of said trays of uniform size may be locked into position within the cabinet to prevent loss or inspection of the cards.

With these and incidental objects in View, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in the appended claims and a preferred form of embodiment of which is hereinafter shown with reference to the drawings whichacconlpany and form a partof this a cardv in place within the card holder, and

the card holder being in place within the stirrup and inhinged relationship therewith, the stirrupbeing in place upon the longitudinal guideway.

4 is an end View taken on line H of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the card shown removed from the card holder.

Fig. 6 front view of a preferred form of the card holder shown removed from the stirrup.

Fig. 7 anedgc View of the card series taken on line 77 of Fig. 2-, looking in the direction indi ated.

Like referenc characters refer to like parts throughout the several views.-

In the drawingsv 1 is acard tray, preterahly made of a bottom sheet of rigid material, having a front upturned end 2, and having a pull 3, disposed upon the exterior wall there-of. A rear end wall 4, is disposed upon the opposite end to that of the front wall and downturned side flanges 49' may he formed elevate the free end of the rearr'nost cards.

to maintain a uniform height of the carols when the series has been ompleted i each line of card's. Guldeway strips 6 running lengthwise of the tray section are formed by cutting out portions of the bottom at each side of the strip, and stirraps Tare maintained thereupon and in slidahle relationship therewith. Stirrns? are made in the form of an elongated having nptnrned end portions and 9 Which-hare I between the surfaces. Projections or lugs o in the card holder.

are formed at either side of the card holder 11 to permit of engagement into the holes 10 of the stirrups and cause a hinged relation to be maintained between the stirrup 7 and the card holder or clip. The card holder may be formed about a shaft having projecting ends or the same may be formed of one piece of sheet stock having projecting bearings formed thereupon as illustrated at 15. A preferred form of card holder isthat illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the card holder is formed of a single piece of sheet stock and wherein the projections 17 are so formed as to permit the upturned ends of the stirrups to be permitted to pass into the slots or openings l8-and to be snapped into position about the projections 17 which will form a completed article of manufacture wherein dislodgment of one part from the other will not be so likely to occur. In the forming of the cards it has been found desirable to form notches or indentations 19 in the lower edges of the cards to permit of the seating of the cards to the full depth within the card holder,.thc upturned ends of the stirrups fitting into the notches 19 thus formed in the cards. \Vith the notches so formed within the lower edge of the cards, I have found the cards have a. tendency, especially in the layer cards, through continued use, to tear at, or beginning withthe notch thus formed. To overcome this tendency of premature destruction, through the creation of the notches 19 'in the lower edge of the card holder, I have formed ends upon the card holder, as shown in Fig. 6 at 20, wherein the card holder engages and clamps the card beyond the notches 19 formed therein.- This form of construction I have found, through continued use, prevents the premature destruction of the card due to tearing due to the notches being formed and also permits of the seating of the card to the full depth with- I have formed a locking hole 21 at the rear of the bottom of the card tray through which a locking bar may be passed to prevent the removal of the card tray from the cabinet.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What I claim is 1. The combination in a card index and file of a card tray formed of metal and com prising a guideway strip formed as a part of the bottom of said tray: stirrups carried by said strip; a card holder hingeably secured to each stirrup, said card holder being formed of a single piece of metal folded upon itself to form two engaging surfaces and provided with means at each end of the fold to hingeably engage said stirrup, and an index card provided with parallel -recesses along one edge thereof, said recesses each to pass about one end of said stirrup when the edge of the card between said recesses is inserted in said holder.

2. The combination in a card index and file, of a card tray formed of metal having upturned ends and downturned side flanges, and comprising a plurality of guideway strips formed as a part of the bottom of said tray; an inclined portion formed at the rear of each strip; stirrups carried by each strip, said stirrups comprising a metal strip having upturned ends, there being a hole formed through each end; a clip composed of a single piece of metal folded upon itself and having outstanding lugs formed in alignment with said fold, said lugs engaging the hole in each upturned end of said stirrup; an index card provided with spaced parallel notches formed in its lower edge, that portion of said index card between said notches to fit within said clip, and said notches to fit about the upturned edges of said stirrup.

3. The combination in a card index and tile of a card tray formed of metal and having upturned ends and downturned side flanges, and comprising strips formed as a part of the bottom of said tray, said strips being formed by cutting away a portion of the bottom of the tray at each side thereof; stirrups freely carried upon said strips; said stirrups being formed with upturned ends provided with bearing holes thercthrough; and clips provided with outstanding lugs to engage the holes in the upstanding ends of said stirrups.

4. The combination in a card index and file of a card tray formed of metal and having ends and side walls. and having one or more guideway strips formed as apart of the base of said tray; stirrups carried upon each strip and in slidable relation therewith, card holders disposed within the stirrups and in hinged relation therewith. said card holders each formed of one piece bent about its longitudinal medial line to form clamping surfaces with out-turned edges, an ndex card provided therefor, said index end of an index card rest thereupon.

50 The combination in a card index and file of a guide strip U-shaped stirrups slidably carried upon said guide strip, card holders having clamping surfaces disposed Within the stirrups and in hinged relation 10 therewith, and cards disposed between clamping surfaces of the card holders and removable therefrom.

MALCOLM MCDONALD. 

